Engadget

Pure updates Evoke Mio radio with six new colors, thinks you need a new shade for summer

Sarah Silbert — Sun, 27 May 2012 08:12:00 EST

Do you really think a black FM radio -- or even worse, one in an off-season shade of grape --- can get you through the summer? Radio maker Pure wants to correct your errant ways. The company is expanding its Evoke Mio radio line with six new "on-trend" color options. The radio is already available in black, teal, grape and cherry, and now Pure is adding pepper, mustard, paprika, sage, rose and seagrass shades. While the colors are new, the specs are the same as on the original model: there's digital and FM radio, space for 30 presets, an auxiliary input for a PMP and an auto-dimming OLED panel. The new Pure Evoke Mio collection will go on sale in June for £130 (it's unclear if the radios will head stateside as well).

Pure updates Evoke Mio radio with six new colors, thinks you need a new shade for summer originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 27 May 2012 08:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Soundfreaq's Sound Stack Bluetooth speaker sports dual subwoofers, $400 pricetag

Joe Pollicino — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 03:01:00 EST

Soundfreaq doesn't release speaker systems often, but it's safe to expect something spectacularly sexy when it does. Such is exactly the case with its latest audiophile-aimed creation, the Sound Stack wireless speaker. The company is toting this $400 Bluetooth-enabled HiFi rig as a "2.2" speaker system, thanks to its DubSub design -- a duo of active subwoofers pump out lowend in an effort to complement its two other "full-range" drivers. Soundfreaq's also packed this puppy with its UQ3 processing to keep the soundstage wide despite the unit's size. Better yet, downloading a free Remote App (available on Android and iOS) unlocks the system's FM radio -- perfect for when you're feeling nostalgic. If that wasn't enough, the Sound Stack's also loaded with an iThing dock and a USB input, both of which can be used to re-juice your devices while streaming. If your Gadget Acquisition Syndrome is already kicking in, fret not, the Sound Stack is available for purchase now. You'll find more details past the break.

Continue reading Soundfreaq's Sound Stack Bluetooth speaker sports dual subwoofers, $400 pricetag

Soundfreaq's Sound Stack Bluetooth speaker sports dual subwoofers, $400 pricetag originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Nov 2011 03:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Livio Radio outs Bluetooth Internet Radio Kit for iPod, iPhone, but you can just call it 'The Kit'

Amar Toor — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 11:41:00 EST

Livio Radio's Bluetooth Internet Radio Car Kit may not be the most mellifluous product name we've ever heard, but it's certainly an apt one. Known as "The Kit" for short, this plug-and-play device allows drivers to stream music from their iPhone or iPod Touch, directly through their car's FM radio. The system also boasts hands-free Bluetooth calling capabilities and a set buttons that let you control Livio's Car Internet Radio application, providing access to over 45,000 radio stations with no monthly fees. Interested parties can grab their own Kit at the source link below, for $120. Otherwise, just steer past the break for an espresso shot of PR.

Continue reading Livio Radio outs Bluetooth Internet Radio Kit for iPod, iPhone, but you can just call it 'The Kit'

Livio Radio outs Bluetooth Internet Radio Kit for iPod, iPhone, but you can just call it 'The Kit' originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 11:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia 701 'Helen' gets a lookover from the FCC, likely includes pentaband support

Brad Molen — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 23:03:00 EST

If you like to play FCC bingo, pull your cards out for the next round; another Nokia phone has made it through the good graces of the US government. This time it's the Helen -- or, going by the new number scheme, the Nokia 701 -- which bears the identification tag "RM-774." This successor to the C7 is rumored to have a 1GHz CPU and come with Symbian Belle preloaded. While the veil that hides the Helen's secrets remains tightly draped over it, the filing indicates that it includes quadband GSM / EDGE and a pentaband 3G radio, a feature Nokia's opted to include in many of its recent smartphones. Of the four new devices on Espoo's leaked roadmap, we've already checked the Nokia 500 "Fate" and 700 "Zeta" off our FCC watch lists, leaving the 600 "Cindy" to bring up the rear at a future date. It's evident that the phonemaker is continuing to push forward with its Symbian plans at an impressive pace; after all, there's still five more years before the company's ready to wave goodbye to the platform, so why not milk it?

Nokia 701 'Helen' gets a lookover from the FCC, likely includes pentaband support originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Aug 2011 23:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Qualcomm unleashes tri-band WiFi and new mobile wireless chipset

Terrence O'Brien — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 23:38:00 EST

Qualcomm might be all juiced up about getting its Snapdragon processor in 250 upcoming devices, but that doesn't mean the company has forgotten its wireless roots. The San Diego-based chip maker announced that its partnership with Wilocity has finally bore fruit in the form of the AR9004TB chipset. This tri-band wireless setup adds 60GHz WiGig to the usual 2.4 and 5GHz dual-band 802.11n formula for "multi-gigabit in-room performance." Though far from finalized, the 802.11ad standard being pushed by the WiGig alliance should be able to hit speeds of 5Gbps -- more than enough to blast several HD video streams around your home. It also packs Bluetooth 4.0 for your less bandwidth intensive (and more battery sensitive) computing needs. Going smaller scale, Qualcomm also unveiled the WCN3660, a wireless chipset to complement its Snapdragon CPU in smartphones and tablets. Inside this sliver of silicon is a dual-band Wi-Fi radio, Bluetooth 4.0, and an FM radio. It also supports Wi-Fi Display (not to be confused with WiDi) for beaming video to a WiFi-enabled TV or monitor. Head on after the break for more PR than you can shake an antenna at.

Continue reading Qualcomm unleashes tri-band WiFi and new mobile wireless chipset

Qualcomm unleashes tri-band WiFi and new mobile wireless chipset originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Jun 2011 23:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony's XDR-S16DBP wakes up from the DAB+ doldrums

Thomas Ricker — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 06:40:00 EST

Try as we might, we've never been able to get too worked up over DAB radio -- dab, just saying it rids the body of consciousness. But then we perked up after seeing the image above for Sony's retro-nouveau XDR-S16DBP micro -- a temporary burst of adrenaline nearly stifled by the more mundane XDR‑C706DBP clock radio found after the break. Both are compatible with the DAB+ digital broadcasting standard rolling out across Europe and offer ten DAB/DAB+ presets with an additional ten for FM. The £79 XDR-S16DBP portable brings a pair of 0.8W stereo speakers, a 16x2 character LCD display, sleep timer, and headphone jack while the compact XDR‑C706DBP is a more traditional DAB+/DAB/FM alarm clock with 0.4W speaker and 4 alarm presets. Both are available now.

Continue reading Sony's XDR-S16DBP wakes up from the DAB+ doldrums

Sony's XDR-S16DBP wakes up from the DAB+ doldrums originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 06:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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H2O Shower Powered Radio blasts the Biebs by way of micro-turbine

Christopher Trout — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 18:07:00 EST

Forget the tablet, 2011 is the year of the shower radio! Last week we reported on Toshiba's wirelessly connected water-proof song box and, just as our nerves began to settle from the excitement, someone came along and dropped this eco-friendly, shower-ready gem on us. Not only is the H2O Shower Powered Radio waterproof, but it actually uses the water from your shower to pump out the jams. The thing connects directly to your shower hose, and uses the flow of water to set a micro-turbine spinning, thus charging an integral battery and eliminating the need for disposables. As the video below points out, the radio "doesn't just offer 80s classics -- it has the full spectrum of FM," and its creators say it's compatible with 99 percent of showers, but what we really want to know is: how well does it crank the Ke$ha? Video after the break.

Continue reading H2O Shower Powered Radio blasts the Biebs by way of micro-turbine

H2O Shower Powered Radio blasts the Biebs by way of micro-turbine originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 18:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Qualcomm unveils next-gen Snapdragon family, including quad-core 2.5GHz CPU

Ross Miller — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 04:24:00 EST

Not one to let the name Snapdragon down, Qualcomm's gone and announced a much faster generation of the processor family, with speeds up to 2.5GHz per core. The multi-core (one, two, and four) 28nm chipsets, codenamed Krait, will feature WiFi, GPS, Bluetooth, and FM, support NFC and stereoscopic 3D video / photo (capture and playback), and also boast multi-mode LTE modem integration. Qualcomm claims a performance increase of 150 percent and a power consumption drop of 65 percent over current ARM-based CPU cores. Included is a new Adreno 320 GPU with support of up to four 3D cores. Samples for the dual-core MSM8960 will be available in second quarter this year, while single-core MSM8930 and quad-core APQ8064 (for "computing and entertainment devices" -- i.e. tablets) versions are coming early 2012. The power-crazed products housing these chipsets? You'll have to wait even longer to see those.

Qualcomm unveils next-gen Snapdragon family, including quad-core 2.5GHz CPU originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Feb 2011 04:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iKit debuts touchscreen-equipped AutoCon FM transmitter

Donald Melanson — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 08:37:00 EST

FM transmitters may not usually be much to look at, but iKit has bucked that trend somewhat with its new AutoCon unit, which packs some illuminated touchscreen controls into a sleek, glossy black enclosure. You'll also naturally get a 3.5mm cable to accommodate the phone or MP3 player of your choice, along with a handsfree function, and a USB car charger to keep the device itself (or your other USB devices) powered at all times. Head on past the break for the complete press release, and look for this one to set you back $45.

Continue reading iKit debuts touchscreen-equipped AutoCon FM transmitter

iKit debuts touchscreen-equipped AutoCon FM transmitter originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 11 Dec 2010 08:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Potato reveals TuneLink Auto Bluetooth-to-FM transmitter for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad

Darren Murph — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 09:00:00 EST

We've never been on the volunteer cheerleading squad for FM transmitters; in our experience, they're downright useless in cities or other areas that actually have a large amount of radio stations nearby. But we'll hand it to New Potato Technologies -- this may be the slickest implementation yet. The newly announced TuneLink Auto looks like a typical cigarette adapter charger at first glance, but within, there's technology that accepts audio over Bluetooth and then sends it out over FM. This prevents users from having to connect a dongle of any kind to their iPad, iPod touch or iPhone, but the built-in USB port is actually capable of charging all three should you choose. There's even a 3.5mm output jack for channeling the tunes to a 3.5mm input on your head unit, and the (necessary) accompanying iDevice app should hit the App Store soon for absolutely nothing. The hardware itself is available now from New Potato for $99.99, and it'll hit "select retail locations" in a fortnight or so for the same amount.

Gallery: New Potato TuneLink Auto Bluetooth-to-FM transmitter

Continue reading New Potato reveals TuneLink Auto Bluetooth-to-FM transmitter for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad

New Potato reveals TuneLink Auto Bluetooth-to-FM transmitter for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Nov 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Confirmed: Droid 2 hack brings FM radio, in one ear and out the other

Sean Hollister — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 21:37:00 EST

When we heard that the Motorola Droid 2 was the latest Android handset to nab the ancient magic of frequency modulated audio using Droid X files, we just had to give it a try, and sure enough, if you've got root, the FM Radio app can be yours with a quick download and just a few lines of code. Before you run off to void your warranty, however, you should know it's got a fairly desirable feature missing -- it only plays audio out of the right earphone. But hey, if we're going old school, we might as well go all the way, right? Excuse us while we go listen to some glorious monoaural sound. Files and instructions at our source links, immediately below.

Confirmed: Droid 2 hack brings FM radio, in one ear and out the other originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Sep 2010 21:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ask Engadget: best FM transmitter out there?

Darren Murph — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 22:30:00 EST

We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget question is coming to us from Wes, who is actually brave enough to even consider an FM transmitter. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

"I'm in the market for a new car, and that has me thinking towards multimedia connectivity. I don't want to rule out direct iPhone integration, but since the car is almost certainly going to be used, I'd like to think more along the lines of AUX-in and FM transmitter capability. I've also read that many of the new products can enable hands-free cellphone use, so this would be great to include. Any recommendations for a good in-car charging unit with these features?"

We'll go ahead and be straight with you -- if you're in the city or the suburbs, be prepared for long, frustrating fights to find a clear channel. We've never had much luck with 'em outside of the middle of nowhere, but maybe our dear readership will chime in with a few pointers below. Godspeed.

Ask Engadget: best FM transmitter out there? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Aug 2010 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Grace Digital's Tuner Wireless Radio & Media Player adds internet radio to existing stereos

Darren Murph — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 00:54:00 EST

So, we've two main issues here. One, who in their right mind would pay $219.99 for a device that still requires a dedicated stereo in order to play back the internet radio streams that Grace Digital's Tuner Wireless Radio & Media Player delivers? And secondly, who would want to put up with Grace Digital's thoroughly lackluster UI? If you can't grok the grumbling, the aforementioned company now has a slender new component it'd love to stick on your shelf, with the device shown above able to stream WiFi radio content from 30,000 stations, Pandora, iheartradio, Sirius, Live365, MP3tunes and a smattering of other sources. It can be wired up via Ethernet or used over 802.11g, with composite, Toslink and coaxial digital audio outputs around back. There's a 4-line backlit LCD for displaying not nearly enough metadata at once, and there's even a remote thrown in for those looking to build out their collection. It's available now if you're feeling the itch, though we'd suggest you get that checked out before blindly indulging.

Continue reading Grace Digital's Tuner Wireless Radio & Media Player adds internet radio to existing stereos

Grace Digital's Tuner Wireless Radio & Media Player adds internet radio to existing stereos originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 00:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nexus One now a step closer to FM radio support, thanks to modified kernel

Ross Miller — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 15:41:00 EST

As you may or may not be already aware, the Nexus One and HTC Desire have the same Broadcom chip. Seems trivial at cursory glance until you realize the Desire has a FM radio app, which should ergo be just as feasible on the Google-branded device. Cut to xda-developers' intersectRaven, who's released a custom N1 kernel that theoretically brings life to the FM receptor. It's available to download, but as for when you'll get a chance to really use this yourself, that's entirely up to the custom ROM developers updating their respective wares. For his part, Paul O'Brien said today he's already got it working on an upcoming Froyo Sense build for the device -- hang tight, folks, it's coming.

[Thanks, John]

Nexus One now a step closer to FM radio support, thanks to modified kernel originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Jul 2010 15:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sharp ships 1GHz IS01 developer's edition in Japan, minus all the goodies

Sean Hollister — Fri, 14 May 2010 02:48:00 EST

Hoping to get your hot little hands on the tinker-friendly edition of Sharp's Snapdragon-powered IS01 Android MID? If you live in Japan, today's your lucky day -- assuming you're willing to overlook the possibility that the developer's version has been thoroughly neutered. According to a Japanese press release, JN-DK01 dev kits are now shipping, but apparently sans cellular modem (no phone calls, no 3G data) and without API support for FM and 1Seg connectivity. You'll still get to play around with that 960 x 480 multitouch LCD, experiment with IrDA and download Android Market apps over WiFi, but we're not quite seeing the point of working with a cheap-feeling Android 1.6 device stripped of its coolest toys.

Sharp ships 1GHz IS01 developer's edition in Japan, minus all the goodies originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 14 May 2010 02:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft facing patent lawsuit over Zune Buy From FM feature

Nilay Patel — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 14:47:00 EST

Looks like someone at Microsoft should be paying slightly more attention to the mail: an ophthalmologist (yes, that's right) in Illinois named Edward Yavitz is suing Redmond over the Zune's Buy From FM feature, saying he wrote the software giant a letter in 2006 that disclosed his two relevant patents on the tech, suggested how it could be integrated into the Zune, and asked for a deal. Two years and presumably zero replies later, a young Joe Belfiore introduced Buy From FM along with the Zune 3.0 software, which Ed says directly infringes on his patents -- and his lawsuit, filed ten days ago, asks the court to permanently stop sales of the Zune and award him triple damages in cash. Oops. We haven't dived too deeply into the patents themselves, but it looks like Ed's going to have a bit of a fight on his hands here, as the patents seem to describe systems that have preloaded content about music that's then accessed when a data trigger is received over the air, not just storing song information for later purchase over the Internet. We're sure the good doctor's attorneys have some high-powered arguments to the contrary, so we'll withhold judgment and see where this all leads -- we're guessing a quick settlement is in the cards, as fighting Microsoft might end up actually costing more than any percentage of royalties on total sales of the Zune.

P.S.- If you're wondering why Apple hasn't been named for its similar iTunes Tagging feature... well, so are we. We'll see what happens.

Microsoft facing patent lawsuit over Zune Buy From FM feature originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Mar 2010 14:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gear4 ups the iPhone alarm clock ante with SmartDock

Darren Murph — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 08:46:00 EST

These things are a dime a dozen, sure, but you can't fault Gear4 for trying. In fact, it has managed to create something that's marginally unique in a world full of me-toos, as the SmartDock relies on hardware and software aspects in order to shine. At first blush, the actual dock isn't much to look at, but the bundled app enables you to search through stations using the iPhone's touchscreen and pause / rewind at will. You can also sync the alarm clock to play through the dock's speakers, and it'll work just fine on the iPod touch. We certainly wish a remote would've been thrown in for good measure, but hopefully the whole package will be cheap enough to make us overlook the omission. Wink, wink.

Gear4 ups the iPhone alarm clock ante with SmartDock originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 20 Feb 2010 08:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TI stuffs WiFi, GPS, Bluetooth and FM radios on a single chip, UWB and LTE are like 'hello?'

Darren Murph — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:22:00 EST

Heads-up, kids -- Mobile World Congress is but days away from liftoff, and it looks like Texas Instruments will be there with a purpose. The company has today introduced what it's calling the "industry's first quad-radio single chip," which throws 802.11n, GPS, FM transmit / receive and Bluetooth radios onto a single 65-nanometer WiLink 7.0 solution. Purportedly, this device reduces costs by 30 percent, size by 50 percent and bragging rights by 894 percent. The chip is currently sampling to OEMs with undisclosed names, which could mean that a prototype phone or two will be taking advantage in Barcelona. Fingers crossed.

Continue reading TI stuffs WiFi, GPS, Bluetooth and FM radios on a single chip, UWB and LTE are like 'hello?'

TI stuffs WiFi, GPS, Bluetooth and FM radios on a single chip, UWB and LTE are like 'hello?' originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Moto CLIQ hacked to enable FM radio, easy listenin' coming soon

Tim Stevens — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 09:12:00 EST

We wouldn't rate the ability to tune FM radio highly on our wishlist of missing features on Motorola's CLIQ, but nonetheless an Android tweaker by the name of Eugene has figured out how to deliver it. The necessary receiving hardware for pulling down the Weekly Top 40 was actually there all the time, Eugene just needed some binary files -- and to believe. Once he believed hard enough, clapped his hands, and copied over those files, presto he was groovin'. He hasn't released a working version of his tweak to the world just yet, but we presume that will be coming soon enough.

Moto CLIQ hacked to enable FM radio, easy listenin' coming soon originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Jan 2010 09:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Flexio solar powered FM radio doubles as bookmark

Joseph L. Flatley — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:42:00 EST

We don't really have much use for radio over the airwaves -- hell, the closest we ever get to the halcyon days of rock'n'roll radio is the Flaming Groovies station on Pandora. But something as convenient (and as cute) as this next item just might get us back in the habit. A proof-of-concept by a small handful of designers (Wu Kun-chia, Wang Shih-ju, Chen Ming-daw & Liou Chang-ho), Flexio is a portable, printed, solar powered, paper-thin FM receiver that fits in a book -- or a pocketbook. Each radio is tuned to a specific frequency, so the design calls for boxed sets for different cities (for example, Taipei, Berlin, or Paris). Sure, it's probably not convenient to carry the whole box around with you, but you might want to hang onto KROQ in case you should ever find yourself wandering around LA late Sunday night/early Monday morning. Get a closer look after the break.

Continue reading Flexio solar powered FM radio doubles as bookmark

Flexio solar powered FM radio doubles as bookmark originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Keepin' it real fake, part CCXLV: the Nokia iPhone

Vlad Savov — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 08:53:00 EST

Alright, so iPhone and N97 knock-offs probably aren't the rarest of gems around these days, but how many handsets do you know that can lay claim to being both? The Cooli902 takes the iPhone's 3.5-inch touchscreen, spit-shines a pretty realistic iPhone OS clone-job, and then adds the Nokia flavor with a fully fledged QWERTY keypad ripped straight from the heart of the N97. Not only does it open to that familiar angle, it also sports the same layout and what we can only imagine to be the same violent opening mechanism as found on the original Nokia handset. And to think that poor Philippe Starck had to pick between these two phones, when for only $143 we could have had both. More pics after the break, or hit the read link to get your own.

Continue reading Keepin' it real fake, part CCXLV: the Nokia iPhone

Keepin' it real fake, part CCXLV: the Nokia iPhone originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Nov 2009 08:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony joins 1,000-hour recording club with IDC-UX300

Vlad Savov — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:08:00 EST

You really don't know how many voice recorders there are out there until you actually look. Sony's UX line of dictation takers / mp3 players has just undergone a gentle revamp with a freshened up control scheme and a bump in integrated storage. The new base model, UX200, will come with 2GB of flash memory, while the 4GB UX300 and 300F (both capable of more than 1,000 hours of recording) are differentiated only by the FM radio availalble in the latter. All models record in stereo mp3 format with added noise cancellation built in, while playback can be done at 21 different speed steps, allowing you to keep track of all the Scatman John wannabes out there. Battery life is rated at up to 15 hours for continuous recording, or north of 80 for continuous playback. Expect to see these showing up, in all their classy color options, in Europe early next month, and check past the break for the full PR.

Gallery: Sony ICD-UX200, ICD-UX300, and ICD-UX300F

Continue reading Sony joins 1,000-hour recording club with IDC-UX300

Sony joins 1,000-hour recording club with IDC-UX300 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone and iPod touch radio app with iTunes store integration on the horizon?

Ross Miller — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:54:00 EST

We know what you're thinking, how dare that new iPod nano have features your premium iPhone and iPod touch handhelds don't? Well, if this 9 to 5 Mac rumor has any merit, Apple is right there with you and has a solution in the works. According to said whispers, a Radio app is in the works to capitalize on the recent models' latent FM tuner. It'll either be standalone or integrated into the iPod app, and either way it'll be able to work in the background while you browse other, not so fortunate apps. The apparent cause for delay is work on a feature that'll identify the songs and link you to the appropriate iTunes page for purchase. As always, this is just a rumor, so do yourself a favor and try not to dwell on it too much, k?

Filed under: Cellphones, Portable Audio

iPhone and iPod touch radio app with iTunes store integration on the horizon? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG's GB230 ditches the headphones and keeps the FM flowing

Chris Ziegler — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 09:48:00 EST

A great many of the world's phones can tune FM radio -- it's basically a standard feature in some developing countries -- but most of them are hogtied by a necessary evil: the headphones act as the antenna. Enter the GB230 slider from LG, an otherwise uninteresting entry-level slider that proudly boasts of its "Wireless FM" capability with a big silkscreened logo below the screen, meaning you're able to tune FM to your heart's content without plugging in. It's also got live radio recording and a microSD slot to save all that scintillating talk programming you're into, Bluetooth 2.1, and USB connectivity for 4,790 rubles (about $158) -- not bad for a phone that can do something most $600 phones can't.

[Via PhoneArena]

Filed under: Handsets, Multimedia, LG, GSM

LG's GB230 ditches the headphones and keeps the FM flowing originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Sep 2009 09:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Insignia NS-HD01 portable HD radio hands-on and impressions

Darren Murph — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 17:34:00 EST

HD Radio has been desperately trying for years to become important in a world where most Americans are perfectly fine with tinny, 96kbps MP3s, and by and large, it's been unsuccessful. More vehicles today arrive with compatibility for a single shining portable media player (Apple's iPod, if you had to ask) than HD Radio, and up until this month, there was no way to easily strap an HD Radio player on your arm when heading out to the gym. One could argue that getting the technology into this segment is crucial for being ubiquitous, and while we aren't so sure we're in that camp just yet, we're still willing to give Insignia's NS-HD01 a fighting chance. Head on past the break for our take, and feel free to peruse the gallery for an up close and personal look at the hardware.

Gallery: Insignia NS-HD01 portable HD radio hands-on

Continue reading Insignia NS-HD01 portable HD radio hands-on and impressions

Filed under: Portable Audio

Insignia NS-HD01 portable HD radio hands-on and impressions originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Jul 2009 17:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Insignia NS-HD01: first-ever portable HD Radio on sale at Best Buy

Darren Murph — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:01:00 EST

Remember that first-ever portable HD Radio prototype we peeked back in May? Turns out Best Buy just let loose the real-deal, today announcing immediate availability of the Insignia NS-HD01. Needless to say, the big box retailer and supporters of HD Radio alike are hoping that this subscription-free player will finally put some much-needed wind behind the sails of the format, and while it's pretty simple in nature, the sub-$50 price tag could place it squarely in the "impulse buy" category. The relatively brief specs list includes a color LCD, rechargeable Li-ion battery, a 3.5 millimeter headphone jack, a bundled armband and ten user-selectable preset memory channels. You can catch the full release after the break, and the player itself in your nearest Best Buy.

Gallery: Insignia NS-HD01: first-ever portable HD Radio on sale at Best Buy

Continue reading Insignia NS-HD01: first-ever portable HD Radio on sale at Best Buy

Filed under: Portable Audio

Insignia NS-HD01: first-ever portable HD Radio on sale at Best Buy originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Belkin shows first iPhone 3.0 accessory, mashes up GPS and FM data to pick the best TuneCast frequency

Paul Miller — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 14:33:00 EST

After your fourth or fifth time ending up in a ditch or a swimming pool or a tree while attempting to find a good FM frequency to push your iPod tunes to your car stereo, you're likely looking for a better way to live. Lucky for you, Belkin has been hard at work over-engineering the problem to death, and has finally emerged with the new TuneCast Auto Live FM Transmitter. The device is "specifically compatible" with iPhone OS 3.0, and pulls GPS data from the phone to figure out the clearest FM frequency to use based on "geographical" data and on the recommendations of other local users. It's all controllable from the iPhone interface with the free ClearScan Live app, which reduces device juggling, but the unit also works with the iPod touch, iPod classic and iPod nano. It'll be available early this fall for $80.

Filed under: iPhone OS, Accessories

Belkin shows first iPhone 3.0 accessory, mashes up GPS and FM data to pick the best TuneCast frequency originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Jun 2009 14:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Belkin shows first iPhone 3.0 accessory, mashes up GPS and FM data to pick the best TuneCast frequency

Paul Miller — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 14:33:00 EST

Filed under: GPS, Peripherals, Portable Audio

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Belkin's new TuneBase FM and TuneBase Direct pack speakerphones

Darren Murph — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 11:41:00 EST

Belkin's milking its TuneBase product line for all it's worth, today introducing two new wares that are just marginally different than those we've seen before. The new TuneBase FM and TuneBase Direct both enable iPhone users pick up a call handsfree (via the built-in speakerphone) as well as channel tunes to one's stereo via an auxiliary input jack (that's the 'Direct') or FM transmitter (and that's the 'FM'). The TuneBase FM is set to hit shelves next month in the US for $89.99, while the TuneBase Direct should make its way out this month for $69.99.

Update: iLounge has a quick hands-on with the TuneBase Direct if you're into that sort of thing. And we know you are.

Gallery: Belkin introduces new TuneBase FM and TuneBase Direct

Filed under: Peripherals

Belkin's new TuneBase FM and TuneBase Direct pack speakerphones originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Jun 2009 11:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Belkin's new TuneBase FM and TuneBase Direct pack speakerphones

Darren Murph — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 11:41:00 EST

Gallery: Belkin introduces new TuneBase FM and TuneBase Direct

Filed under: Cellphones, Peripherals

Belkin's new TuneBase FM and TuneBase Direct pack speakerphones originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Jun 2009 11:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Portable HD Radio prototype gets pictured, coming this summer for under $50

Darren Murph — Wed, 13 May 2009 22:07:00 EST

Details are rather scant on this little gem right now, but here's what we can tell you: you're looking at the world's first HD Radio portable device prototype, and it's slated to do just about exactly what you expect. In other words, it'll slip into your pocket, tune into HD Radio as well as standard analog FM broadcasts and connect with any set of cans that use a 3.5 millimeter headphone jack. Unfortunately, the manufacturer is being kept under wraps, and there's no Bluetooth headset support baked in. That said, you can expect it to land in an undisclosed "big box retailer" this summer for under $50.

Filed under: Handhelds, Portable Audio

Portable HD Radio prototype gets pictured, coming this summer for under $50 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 May 2009 22:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Creative TravelSound i85 adds external speaker, FM tuner to iPod nano

Darren Murph — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 18:34:00 EST

There's really no easy way to say it -- Creative's TravelSound i85 is bordering on unsightly, so devout fashionistas should probably look elsewhere. For those who always put design second and utility first, this here device adds a portable speaker and FM tuning abilities to Apple's fourth-generation iPod nano (the tall, thin one, for those unaware) and even includes a built-in rechargeable battery for pumping out up to 15 hours of house jams. Aside from operating as a gaudy wrist adornment, it can also double as a stand (horizontally or vertically), though there's no Dock Connector pass-through (just a miniUSB plug). Worth $99.99? That's between you and the monster underneath your bed.

[Via FarEastGizmos]

Filed under: Peripherals, Portable Audio

Creative TravelSound i85 adds external speaker, FM tuner to iPod nano originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Apr 2009 18:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Broadcom's first Bluetooth 3.0 chip gets certified

Nilay Patel — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 06:48:00 EST

Well, that fast -- just a day after the Bluetooth SIG officially announced the new Bluetooth 3.0 specification, Broadcom's announced that its BCM4325 chip has been certified and is ready to go. As you'd expect from a chip that uses the new high-speed multi-protocol standard, the 4325 does WiFi as well as Bluetooth, with a dash of FM thrown in for good measure. Handshakes all around -- now let's get this thing in some devices, shall we?

Filed under: Misc

Broadcom's first Bluetooth 3.0 chip gets certified originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Apr 2009 06:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Broadcom's first Bluetooth 3.0 chip gets certified

Nilay Patel — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 06:48:00 EST

Filed under: Wireless

Broadcom's first Bluetooth 3.0 chip gets certified originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Apr 2009 06:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CSR fits WiFi, Bluetooth, FM, and GPS into CSR9000 wireless chip

Nilay Patel — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 18:49:00 EST

We don't know if CSR's latest all-in-one chip benefits from the recent acquisition of GPS chipmaker SiRF, but the CSR9000 does manage to bundle the location-based technology with WiFi, Bluetooth, and FM. It's also boasting low energy output and small form factor. The company says it's already sampled it for key, unnamed customers. Those canoodling in Barcelona can check out a live demonstration of the chip running on Android at the company's booth.

Filed under: Misc

CSR fits WiFi, Bluetooth, FM, and GPS into CSR9000 wireless chip originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Feb 2009 18:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony Ericsson launches AB900 wireless car kit, convertible not included

Sean Cooper — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 13:07:00 EST

We've seen Bluetooth car kits come and go -- and Sony Ericsson has sold its fair share -- let's face it, they're often a huge hassle with very little return for your dollars. The SE AB900 may change that as this portable number offers up an RDS feature that finds an empty frequency to broadcast to your car's FM stereo, lets you get at your favorite five numbers and voicemail at the touch of a button, and will even let you stream your tunes from your mobile. But wait, there's more: 26 hour talk time, 40 day standby, no installation required -- we love this bit -- and it even comes in both black and silver. While the press pictures show a winsome couple giggling as they blast through the countryside in a convertible, the jury's still out on if this little number can deliver the kind of joy they're showing us it does. One more pic after the break.

Continue reading Sony Ericsson launches AB900 wireless car kit, convertible not included

Filed under: Peripherals, Portable Audio, Transportation, Wireless

Sony Ericsson launches AB900 wireless car kit, convertible not included originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Feb 2009 13:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony Ericsson launches AB900 wireless car kit, convertible not included

Sean Cooper — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 13:07:00 EST

Continue reading Sony Ericsson launches AB900 wireless car kit, convertible not included

Filed under: Peripherals, Sony Ericsson, Accessories

Sony Ericsson launches AB900 wireless car kit, convertible not included originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Feb 2009 13:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Broadcom chip for phones does 802.11n, lots of other stuff

Chris Ziegler — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 00:18:00 EST

Phones have lagged -- understandably, we suppose -- behind desktops and laptops in bringing 802.11n to market, but it was bound to happen eventually; to that end, Broadcom has announced its BCM4329, one of the first mobile 802.11n solutions on the block. On top of delivering up to 50Mbps of real-world WiFi throughput on both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, the darned thing throws in Bluetooth, an FM receiver, and an FM transmitter, too -- in other words, everything but the kitchen sink, where the "kitchen sink" is the cellular radio itself. Sadly, the 4329 sticks with single-stream transmission to conserve battery life -- no MIMO here, folks -- but considering the 802.11g alternative, we'll take what we can get. The chip's already being sampled (and hopefully being integrated into future products) by Broadcom's customers with mass production following on sometime in 2009.

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless

New Broadcom chip for phones does 802.11n, lots of other stuff originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Dec 2008 00:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Broadcom chip for phones does 802.11n, lots of other stuff

Chris Ziegler — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 00:18:00 EST

Filed under: Misc

New Broadcom chip for phones does 802.11n, lots of other stuff originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Dec 2008 00:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sanyo introduces WiFi-enabled R227 tabletop radio

Darren Murph — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 15:30:00 EST

Internet radios aren't anything new, but Sanyo's putting its own spin on things with the WiFi-packin' R227. Aside from offering standard FM reception, this tabletop device also tunes into thousands of internet stations / podcasts, and it enables listeners to search by country or genre. You'll also find a pair of stereo speakers, one-button on / off, a bundled remote, an Ethernet jack, auxiliary input for DAPs and an audio output for connecting to larger, more robust sound systems. For now, it seems the unit will be exclusive to Canada where it will be offered in a black wood gloss finish for $219.99.

Filed under: Home Entertainment

Sanyo introduces WiFi-enabled R227 tabletop radio originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Oct 2008 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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